Converting from Wheatstone to Jeffries system

[David Levine]

A while ago I asked about playing ITM on a Wheatstone system. I'd been playing for many years on the Jeffries system. I never became comfortable in the two months of playing the Wheatstone with only the one press C# on the right hand. I could do it but I felt that some tunes were awkward. Last week I switched the G & A reeds (on the second button in on the right hand accidental row) for C# and D# reeds that I bought from Dave Prebble. I sent him the originals so he could match the sizes. With a bit of filing the new reeds fit into the original slots perfectly. I still have the G & A reeds should I ever want to restore the Linota to its original layout.

 

The response isn't perfect since the reed frames weren't designed for the longer reeds required for C# and D# (rather than the shorter G and A reeds). But it's adequate. I may yet decide to widen the reed-pan slots (they can always be shimmed back to size for the smaller original frames) and get reeds that are properly sized for those notes. Many thanks to Dave for sending me just what I needed.

 

I could have adapted to the Wheatstone were I not also playing a concertina with a Jeffries system. However, I do find that the Jeffries system is better suited to ITM. Having just the one C# on my 30 button Wheatstone limits the phrasing in certain tunes. For instance, in the three-part jig Sport, as well as the hornpipe Thomond Bridge, I use both the draw C# on the first button and the press C# on the second button in. I don't imagine that having just the one C# would be a problem with traditional English music. What do people have to say in this regard?